Microfiction – Page 8 – Post Modern Existential Horror

Ghost

As his fiancee returned from his funeral, Arturo held her hand. She had no idea he was there, but he could feel her. Maybe she looked around for him. Maybe she sensed him. He couldn’t tell what she was feeling. Some things don’t change. As she turned on daytime television, he watched her. He’d never… Continue reading Ghost

The children are outside, playing a game of rock, paper, scissors. They say the words with great concentration as they beat their fists into their palms. The little boy wins more often than the little girl does, but is more frustrated when he loses. The girl is frightened of his emotion, and because she only… Continue reading Advertisement

Winner

Though he was early, he leered at his watch. He was only a little early, just enough to make sure he was there first. He liked to be first. Around the cafe, he saw people, though he couldn’t focus on their faces. None of them were her, and that was all he cared about right… Continue reading Winner

Robustness

As the train pulled into the station, Ezekiel thought about calling ahead, but it was best if she didn’t expect him. His plan depended on a certain amount of secrecy, if he had a plan. He noted: he was the sort who made plans. Before he talked to Leslie, he wanted to know what his… Continue reading Robustness

Relief (nurse)

Tammy took a few deep breaths before she entered room 403. “Good evening, Mr. Cartwright,” she said business-like, as polite as she could manage given the inevitable response. “Go fuck yourself, you fat cow. I’m in pain, give me morphine.” She was sure he wasn’t in as much pain as he should have been. According… Continue reading Relief (nurse)

Witch

As the judge passed his verdict, the accused, then the convicted, now the deceased, breathed a sigh of what looked like relief. She had seemed bored all through the proceedings, even as various men of the community recalled with torrid detail her seduction tactics. Goodman Jonas wept as he recounted the spell that compelled him… Continue reading Witch

History

Dr. Deacon showed his bicep to the class. A couple of the football players were impressed, but most of the girls seemed embarrassed. Blushing was how teenagers showed admiration, he knew, but he was still annoyed by their evasive glances. A nerd raised his hand. “Is this going to be on the test?” Other students… Continue reading History

Two friends of opposite genders are watching a sporting event on television. The woman is bored. The man is enthusiastic. His enthusiasm bores her more than the game itself. He looks over to her after what to him was an exciting play, and she nods to avoid corrupting his childlike wonder. Maintaining the implicit deceit… Continue reading Advertisement

pH

Research was the easy part. Some compounds produce scent and flavor when dissolved in an alcohol solution. Obvious. Which associations are triggered in test subjects depends largely, but not entirely, on the relationship between the synthetic molecule and those found in nature. Olaf wasn’t in the mood to document. He’d done it all so many… Continue reading pH

Cheater

Through the dark, Gerard massaged the air around his wife’s body until he found her. She was motionless, almost unaware of him, until his hand landed gently against her skin. The sensation took her by surprise, and she twitched, but his other hand brushed against her hair and smoothed her down. He could tell she… Continue reading Cheater